''Berthella martensi'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
sea slug
Sea slug is a common name for some marine invertebrates with varying levels of resemblance to terrestrial slugs. Most creatures known as sea slugs are gastropods, i.e. they are sea snails (marine gastropod mollusks) that over evolutionary time ...
, a
marine gastropod mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Pleurobranchidae
The Pleurobranchidae are a taxonomic family of sea slugs, marine gastropod molluscs in the clade Pleurobranchomorpha.
Characteristics
Species in the family Pleurobranchidae have a prominent mantle and an internal shell that becomes re ...
.
Description
This
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
can grow up to a length of .
The background coloration of the body varies a great deal, from light orange-brown to black or whitish to cream in color. The body is always marked with dark or clear spots, according to what is the dominant background color.
The mantle, which covers the body, is composed of four distinct parts: dorsal, anterior, and two lateral pieces protecting the gills. These lateral pieces are on the right side of the body; they have the same coloration as the body, but are outlined in black.
Three of its dorsal parts can be shed in case of danger, a form of
autotomy
Autotomy (from the Greek ''auto-'', "self-" and ''tome'', "severing", αὐτοτομία) or self-amputation, is the behaviour whereby an animal sheds or discards one or more of its own appendages, usually as a self-defense mechanism to elude ...
. This
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
has another means of defense by secreting a repellent acid fluid.
The head has a pair of smooth and slightly folded
rhinophore
A rhinophore is one of a pair of chemosensory club-shaped, rod-shaped or ear-like structures which are the most prominent part of the external head anatomy in sea slugs, marine gastropod opisthobranch mollusks such as the nudibranchs, sea ha ...
s. A trapezoid veil masks partially the oral cavity.
The egg ribbon is whitish.
Image:Berthella martensi.jpg
Image:32-EastTimor-Dive1 Bus-Stop 04 (Nudibranch-Berthella-Martensi)-APiazza.JPG
Image:Berthella martensi, Indonesia.jpg
Image:Berthella martensi 3.jpg
Distribution & habitat
This
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
is widely distributed throughout the
tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in
the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
[
It is usually found among rubble of dead coral in lagoons, or top of the external reef slopes, from the intertidal zone to 25 m depth.
]
Feeding
''Berthella martensi'' feeds on sponge
Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate throug ...
s and tunicate
A tunicate is a marine invertebrate animal, a member of the subphylum Tunicata (). It is part of the Chordata, a phylum which includes all animals with dorsal nerve cords and notochords (including vertebrates). The subphylum was at one time ...
s.[
]
Behaviour
This ''Berthella'' species is nocturnal.
References
External links
Sous les mers, Berthella martensi
Bibliography
*Coleman,''Marine life of the Maldives'', Atoll editions,2004,
*Beesley, Ross & Wells, ''Mollusca-The southern synthesis, vol.5'', CSIRO, 1998,
*Behrens,''Nudibranch behaviour'', New World Publication Inc, 2005,
*Cobb & Willan,''Undersea jewels - a colour guide to nudibranchs'', Australian Biological Resources Study, 2006,
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2899305
Pleurobranchidae
Molluscs of the Indian Ocean
Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean
Gastropods described in 1896
Taxa named by Henry Augustus Pilsbry